Best New Washington Wines in 2013

2010 GRACIANOWASHINGTON STATE ($20)Pomum Cellars has quietly been garnering fans of well-made wines at its small winery in the Woodinville Warehouse District since 2007 and in Shoreline before that. Now, owner and winemaker Javier Alfonso has used his native Spain as a touchstone, crafting a few lovely wines under his Idilico label, named after a famous Spanish bull who performed so regally in a bullfight that he was spared his kind’s common fate, a rare occurrence. The Spanish varieties used in these wines may be equally as rare in Washington. The Albariño is soft but bright, a delightfully refreshing citrusy white. The Graciano is even rarer—usually used to add color and acidity to Tempranillo in Spain—but seems at home and ripens well in Washington. This uncommon grape was planted for Alfonso by Upland Vineyards on Snipes Mountain, a dry, heat-drenched AVA. A deep, inky shade of purple with blackberry, black tea, sweet spice and hefty tannins, this wine pairs nicely with an herbed leg of lamb on the grill.